Fairer Sex, The: 4. Chapter Three: Turnabout

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4. Chapter Three: Turnabout

Arwen did not know what exactly prompted this feeling of dread but she could not ignore it. With everything in readiness for the celebration of the treaty, Arwen had taken a moment to visit Eldarion in the nursery. Once the festivities were set in motion, her presence would be required for most of the night at the side of the king so while there was a moment to spare, she was eager to spend some time with her son. Ioreth was as alway, close at hand when Arwen was not, ensuring the crowned prince of Gondor was never alone, though the nurse did not spoil him. There was no one else in the whole of Gondor whom Arwen had complete confidence in the care of her son, then Ioreth.

Arwen had been sitting in her chair, feeding Eldarion his milk when she was struck by a sensation that immediately raised alarm through her soul. It passed over her like a shadow and froze her heart in her chest. The hand holding Eldarion’s bottle dropped a little, slipping the teat from the child’s mouth. Eldarion expressed himself with a small gurgle of protest. Ioreth who was changing the baby’s sheets in the crib reacted to the sound by lifting her gaze towards the queen and was just as disconcerted by the vacant expression on Arwen’s face.

"My lady," Ioreth called out. "What is the matter?"

Arwen blinked, remembering herself. She swallowed thickly but was unable to dispel the uneasiness that settled over in the last few minutes.

"I do not know," Arwen said quietly, her face showing clearly how disturbed she was. "Something ill swept over me. It was most distressing."

In the time that Ioreth had come to be in the service of the queen as the royal nurse to the crowned prince, she had learnt one thing about elvish senses and that was never to distrust them. Arwen’s connection to her child and her husband was defined by her ability to tell by sense alone, if they were well or unwell. It was not merely a gift of her elven heritage to have such heightened senses but her emotional bonds to her family.

"Are you alright?" Ioreth asked her with concern.

"Yes," Arwen nodded slowly. "I am well but I fear something has happened."

She rose out of her chair and crossed the floor to Ioreth. "I must go to Estel," Arwen replied hastily as she handed Ioreth the babe in her arms. "I must see for myself if he is well."

"I am certain that he is," Ioreth insisted, unable to believe that anything could befall the king within the walls of his Citadel. "No danger can penetrate him here."

"I was once stolen from these very walls," Arwen retorted, recounting all too well how the dark elf Eol had stolen her out of her home during the first week of Eldarion’s life. "After that, I refuse to believe that any place can truly be called impenetrable. I must go see him."

"Of course my lady," the nurse answered, feeling a little of Arwen's anxiety transposed upon her heart as she took Eldarion in her arms. The queen was seldom wrong and if she was fearful then Ioreth knew with utter confidence that it was for good reason.

"Thank you," Arwen replied before striding towards the door. She had almost slipped past Ioreth’s sight when suddenly she halted in her steps and looked over her shoulder at the old woman. "Ioreth, remain here and do not let the prince out of your keeping."

"I would die before I let anything harm him," Ioreth stated with such steel in her voice that Arwen knew she meant it.

Arwen offered Ioreth a slight nod expressing her unspoken appreciation before leaving the nursery behind her. She made her way quickly to the great hall, telling herself that this was nothing but foolishness; she was basing too much on a simple feeling. If she had been fully human, she would accepted that argument as being sound but she was not human, she was an elf. Perhaps she had chosen to live as mortal but she was still a daughter of the Eldar, descended from the elves of Doriath and it was her birthright that she be blessed with their keen senses, senses that were almost as important to her as sight or smell. Something was amiss; she could feel in her bones.

The question that disturbed most of all however, was whether or not she was too late to stop it.

It did not take her long to reach the large doors that barred the Great Hall from the rest of the palace. Two sentries were in position outside and as Arwen proceeded with every intention of passing them, she was suddenly astonished by the fact that they had quickly moved to obstruct her progress.

"I am sorry your highness," the guard said with apology etched upon his face, clearly unhappy by the duty he was forced to undertake at this moment. "We cannot allow you to pass."

"I have no time for nonsense," she declared sharply. "I will see the king."

"No," the guard stood his ground, his spear and that of his companion, created an effective obstruction before her. "We have been ordered by the king not to let anyone interrupt him during the signing of the treaty."

"I do not care!" Arwen snapped. "I will see him now. You will let me pass immediately!"

"I am his queen," Arwen returned imperiously, "he will have your heads for this insult upon me. He has never barred me from his presence for longer than before either of you have lived. He will be furious if you do not let me see him."

"My lady," the guard tried to reason with her, "we have our orders."

"Then you will tell him that I am here and wish to see him," Arwen said in a low voice, her temper barely restrained, "immediately."

Perhaps shaken by the intensity of her words or the possibility that the king would want to see the queen, the guard decided that it could not hurt to confirm that the orders he had received from King Elessar included Queen Arwen. After all, she was right about never being barred from the king’s presence for any reason since Aragorn Elessar had taken up residence here. The guard himself had felt some reservation when the orders were first given but it was not his lot to question the king in any shape or form.

When he finally relented and disappeared into the hall to inform Aragorn that she was here to see him, Arwen felt her heart pounding in her chest. She could not believe that such orders would include her, without good reason. Nothing had transpired this last day warranted such action. Or had it? She was forced to ask herself the question when she considered his orders more deeply. Her instinct for danger had brought her here. Was this part of it?

She had little time to debate the matter further for the guard return and gestured to his companion to widen the door so that she could pass.

"The king bids you to enter my lady," he answered contritely, wearing an expression of obvious concern about how this would effect his future in the palace.

Arwen said nothing as she entered, even though she knew she was within her rights to be smug. However, she could not be so self-assured when it felt as if she were skirting the periphery of disaster.

Upon entering the hall, she saw the king and the rest of their friends seated around the table that had been placed there for the purpose of signing the treaty. Everyone appeared well enough, except the general Castigliari who had a strange glimmer in his eyes that could have been anxiousness. The others however, seemed relaxed and comfortable as if nothing troubled them. Yet as she advanced further toward them, her senses screamed alert with each step she took.

"Undomiel," Aragorn spoke when she neared him enough. "I had thought you would respect my desire not to be interrupted. I gave those orders to my guards for a reason."

Arwen was stunned by his words and noted that the others were staring at her with just as much disapproval. She tried not to show how shaken she was by this because these were men that she considered more than just friends but almost like family. Legolas’ gaze was indifferent as he stared at her wearing an aloof mask. However, it was Aragorn’s expression that unsettled her most. It was devoid of the warmth that she had known since the moment of their first meeting. Whenever she came into his presence, she would see a sparkle of joy in his eyes told her without doubt she was nothing less than wonderful to him. Now his eyes glared at her as if she was a stranger who meant nothing.

"Even for me Estel?" She asked after composing herself.

"Especially you," he said sternly, "because you are my wife and my queen."

"I thought I was more your love then any of those things," she returned, trying to understand what had happened. She gazed briefly at Ulfrain and saw no answers there, merely derisive amusement.

"Of course you are," he replied automatically however he said them without any true affection but rather an uncomfortable statement of fact. "However, love does not alter the fact that it is time you knew your place. When I issue orders that I am not to be interrupted, I expect that they are followed, even by you."

"As it the place of any queen to obey," Legolas added.

Arwen stared at him in disbelief. This was the elf that only a night ago had argued at the barbarism of treating women like chattel. Legolas’ words as much as Aragorn’s was sending her carefully erected composure spiraling towards panic.

"What has happened to all of you?" She suddenly demanded unable to bear this any further. "What have you done to them?" She aimed that accusation in Ulfrain’s direction.

"My lady," Aragorn said sharply bringing her gaze back to him, "you forget yourself. You will not speak to my guests in this manner. Nothing has happened to any of us, save that we have been intruded upon by a wife who does not know her place."

"Estel please," Arwen went to him and placed her hand her hand upon his face, "whatever has made you like this, you can fight it. You have the strongest will of any creature I have ever known, you can defeat this thing that has imprisoned your mind."

Aragorn’s eyes widened a second before he shifted his gaze towards his companion at the table. For a brief second, no one responded at all to Arwen’s plea. She was about to speak further when they suddenly shattered the silence of the great hall with riotous laughter. The only one, who did not engage in this amusement was Castigliari but it did not matter, the sound was almost painful in her ears for all the malice behind it. It was not the laughter of amusement but derision.

"Oh Undomiel," Aragorn replied after he composed himself. "You do have a vivid imagination. Tell me Legolas, is this the way with all elven females?"

Legolas smiled and raised his eyes briefly to Arwen, a gleam of dislike surfacing briefly in his eyes before the cold mask fell over him again, "not usually but then Arwen had always been filled with self importance."

"Aragorn, please!" Arwen tried desperately to reach him, her heart filling with indescribable fear because the situation was worse than she possibly imagined. Something had taken over Estel’s mind and for the king to be someone else’s creature was a terrifying thing indeed. "Let me help you. Your mind is not your own. You would not behave the way you have, if it were."

She dropped to her knees before him, taking his hand in her own and holding it against her cheek, hoping perhaps the physical contact might help him break through this enchantment for she could think of no other name for this malaise that had taken his mind. She gazed at his face, desperately searching for any signs of the gentle man who had made love to her the night before and felt anguish when she could see no trace of him.

"Get to your feet," Aragorn’s voice was hard as flint. "You are making a spectacle of yourself, madam."

Arwen swallowed thickly, her heart plunging to the depths knowing that wherever Estel was, she could not longer reach him. She stood up shakily and took a step behind her before whirling around to face Ulfrain, her eyes no longer filled with anguish but rather fury.

"I will not allow you to gain control of Middle earth in this manner. This is your doing, I am certain of it. What sits in the throne of Gondor is no longer my husband, he is your creature and until a way is found to lift this terrible veil from the eyes of those present here, I will see to it that they will not be of use to you."

"Undomiel!" Aragorn shouted and forced her attention back to him, away from Ulfrain whose only reaction to her declaration was a triumphant sneer.

"You are unwell," he stated firmly, "I think perhaps it is best that you retire to our chambers so I can deal with you when time permits. In your current state, I think perhaps that it is best that you forgo the festivities this evening. Faramir, Legolas, I would ask you to escort her to our chambers and ensure that she remains there."

Faramir and Legolas stood up from their places at the table and immediately took flanking positions on either side of Arwen.

"As you will Aragorn," Faramir replied graciously.

"We will see the lady to her chambers, rest assured," Legolas added, wrapping his fist around her arm.

"Unhand me!" Arwen demanded but his grip was iron.

"Do make this any harder for yourself then it must be Evenstar," Legolas warned as he started to pull her away from Aragorn’s presence.

"I will not let you do this!" Arwen hissed at Ulfrain as her two trusted friends pulled her away from the table.

Ulfrain spoke for the first time and he did so with a clear smile on his face, "it is already done."

As Arwen was forced out of the great hall, with Aragorn watching her departure dispassionately and the others seeming just as oblivious to her predicament, she feared that Ulfrain could be right.

***********

"This is madness!" Castigliari exclaimed once the queen had been removed from the room.

"I do not see how you can say that after what you just witnessed," Ulfrain said with a satisfied look upon his face. Akallabeth’s plan was transpiring far better than anything he might have imagined. When she had first proposed it, he had been skeptical. However, seeing it at work had altered his opinion considerably. The others at the table were seemingly oblivious to everything that had transpired before them, able to act only when the play required them to. Nothing would escape their lips that were not sanctioned by the puppet master who held their strings.

"She knows!" Castigliari declared, unable to hold back any longer the storm of frantic thoughts that had been coursing through his mind when he had first learnt the truth about this entire charade of a treaty. "She will not simply remain in her chambers quietly and allow you to steal her husband’s kingdom. She is an elf! They have special senses."

"Yes that is true," Akallabeth appeared out of the shadows, where she had remained discretely hidden. "She did know. Damn elvish perception. It took most of my efforts to mask my presence from her, I could not shield him as well."

"If she escapes the Citadel to report what she knows, we will have the entire army of Gondor thirsty for our blood!" Castigliari cried out. "Ulfrain, I have fought for our people longer than you have been alive and what you are doing is wrong! It can only end for us in disaster."

"I thought you said you had him under control," Akallabeth looked at Ulfrain with clear disapproval as she approached Aragorn who was seated listless on his throne, making no reaction to anything being said.

"I do," Ulfrain snapped and stared at Castigliari, "it is for our people that I am doing this. If not, we would have to bow down before the Westernesse like defeated animals! Is that what you want?"

"No!" The general demanded, "I do not want that. I want our people to endure more than anything but the time for war is over. We can neither afford to wage or sustain ourselves while doing it! We do not have the power of Mordor behind us any longer and our people are suffering. All they know how to do is war! I believed in this alliance, Ulfrain! Times change and we must change with it."

"We will be in a better position to change when we are in control," Ulfrain retorted. "I will not have these Gondorians tell us how we should our rule own lands. I will not let them tame us in one of their provinces!"

"That would never have happened!" Castigliari declared and surprised himself by how much he believed it.

"Are you so sure?" Ulfrain countered his argument with just as much intensity. "Can you be truly certain that they would not have use their offering aid to hold us to ransom?"

As much as the Easterling general wanted to deny it, he could not commit himself to doing so with complete sincerity. He did have doubts. There was a part of him that wish to die like a warrior, not the defeated supplicant of a foreign power. However, as a general who had waged countless battles in his time, he also knew which fights could not be won and he had to accept that this time they were defeated.

"You know I cannot," he turned away as Ulfrain came towards him.

"You have been my friend and that of my father’s Castigliari," Ulfrain said sincerely. "What I have done will ensure that we will survive and also remain ourselves. I never did this with any thought other then that of our people."

"You bargain with a creature of darkness," Castigliari threw gaze at Akallabeth who was watching the proceedings with bored impatience. "I hope you do not damn our people as well as yourself in this agreement."

Ulfrain swallowed thickly and replied, "I suspect it may be too late for me but it will not be for the Haradrim. I need to know that you will stand by me in this."

Castigliari took a deep breath and wrestled with his emotions. Against his better judgement, he knew what he had to do and realized at that instant that he was just as damned as Ulfrain. "I will help you in whatever way I can."

"Thank you old friend," Ulfrain patted him on the shoulder, "I knew I could trust you."

"My trust is the least of your problems," Castigliari raised his eyes to Akallabeth. "The she elf knows that there is something wrong with her husband and she is warrior trained. She will attempt to leave the Citadel to get word to the rest of Gondor’s military that the king has been enchanted."

"No she will not," Akallabeth said coldly and regarded Aragorn with a little smile. The king was motionless in his chair, staring blankly into empty space as she leaned close to his ear and spoke in soft, dulcet ones.

"Aragorn, your wife intends on stealing your son with the aid of her friends, the lady Eowyn and the lady Melia. She intends to spirit him away to her father’s city, where he will be forever beyond your reach. She has been planning this a long time Aragorn, since he was born and since she discovered that she no longer wished to live among the race of men. She was planning to leave tonight, while you were celebrating the signing of the treaty. If you allow her to escape, you will never see your son again."

"No," Aragorn’s lips muttered as his expression shifted from anguish to anger with each word that Akallabeth spoke. "I will not allow it."

"Good," Akallabeth smiled, pleased that the potion she had administered to all of them had worked so splendidly. His mind was open to suggestion and it only required a skilled enchantress to plant the required thoughts in his head. "You know what you must do. You must stop her. You must have your guards confine her to her chambers and bring your son to you, beyond her reach."

"Is that necessary?" Castigliari asked quietly, mesmerized as well as appalled by Akallabeth’s powers all at once.

"Yes," Akallabeth nodded standing upright and pulling away from the king, "she will be so busy trying to reach her son, she will have little time to interfere in our plans. Whatever happens, the Evenstar cannot be allowed to leave the Citadel to speak of what is transpiring here, her or her companions. We will keep them like rats in a cage. By the time, she begins to suspect what it is we are truly up to, it will be too late for her or for Gondor."

************

At almost the same time elsewhere, Eowyn, Melia and Nunaur returned to the palace before the festival celebrating the treaty was to commence. It had been a beautiful day beyond the confines of Citadel’s imposing walls and the party had been more than happy to escape it into the country around Minas Tirith even for a few hours. The evening would promise nothing but duty and tradition so it was a pleasing afternoon when the two women could shed their noble titles to simply be themselves.

"You were most a pleasant company Nunaur," Eowyn remarked as they left the royal stables and made their way across the courtyard. "You are certainly a more agreeable march warden then Haldir."

"You have met Haldir of Lorien?" Nunaur asked somewhat surprised and curious as to how the lady of Rohan would know of the march warden."

"Well I met him when he was still Haldir of the Golden Wood," Eowyn answered, recalling with little fondness the encounter. It had been during the quest where she had accompanied Arwen to the Blue Mountains. She had been injured and they had paused at Lothlorien so that she could be tended to. Haldir had called her impetuous when she was determined to be on her feet as soon as possible, instead of lingering at Lothlorien in order to recover. Time had been of the essence during that quest and Eowyn had no intention of being the reason that it was wasted when the stakes had been so high.

"And you do not remember him fondly?" Nunaur guessed. He had met Haldir on occasion and found the elf somewhat arrogant. Apparently, he was not the only one who noticed this particular trait.

"Not really," Eowyn replied, remembering with some embarrassment how she had told Haldir that if she were not a lady he would be on the floor for his impertinence to her.

"Haldir can be difficult to tolerate," Melia agreed. "However, one simply has to know how to deal with him."

"Well not all of us has a special way with understanding elves that you do," Eowyn gave her a look of sarcasm.

Nunaur chuckled, having enjoyed the witty banter between both women exchanged throughout most of the day. They were indeed spirited creatures both of them although even Melia seemed temperate compared to the fierce flame possessed by the Lady of Ithilien. Having met Eowyn, Nunaur could well imagine her standing face to face with the Witch King of Angmar and slaying him in battle. She certainly demanded respect, even from one who has lived as long as he.

"We will have to hurry," Melia remarked as they neared the entrance to the palace, "the celebration is due to commence shortly."

"As much at the occasion demands celebration, I think I have had my fill of playing the cordial host to these Easterlings," Eowyn sighed.

"You do not like them?" Nunaur guessed by the frown upon her face.

"It is not that I do not like them," she admitted, "it is their ways seems rather barbaric. I never thought I would be consider myself fortunate for being born a woman in Edoras, considering I had to sneak away to fight at Pelennor disguised as one of the Rohirrim."

"The general seems tolerable enough," Melia remarked, unable to deny that he reminded her a little of her father. "He appears open to new ideas."

Eowyn of course referred to the remark Ulfrain had made about how women handling weapons was offensive to him. Unfortunately, the demands of diplomacy had kept Eowyn from making a rebuttal and inwardly she was still seething about it.

They had entered the palace walls when suddenly, Nunaur had paused in his steps beside them. The elf’s expression became one of dark concern as he halted in the middle of the corridor leading deeper into the structure.

"Nunaur?" Melia stared at him in concern. "What is the matter?"

"Something is wrong," the elven march warden replied, his eyes searching for something neither of them could see.

Eowyn felt terribly vulnerable as he made that statement, clad in her riding clothes without the benefit of a weapon. With Nunaur in escort and because the route taken during their ride was relatively safe, there was little reason to be excessively armed. She could not imagine what danger there could be but she had been in Arwen’s company long enough to know that the senses of elves were not to be distrusted. Too many times before had that perception save their lives before and Eowyn was not about to question it now.

Suddenly the tension of the moment was interrupted by the echoing sound of footsteps marching down the corridor. Nunaur’s gait seemed to tense even further as if the danger was pressing up his spine. His hand dropped to his hip, resting firmly upon the hilt of the elven blade waiting to be unsheathed from its scabbard. Instinct and logic waged a desperate battle inside the minds of Eowyn and Melia as they tried to think off all the reasons why Nunaur could be wrong. In the end, simple memory won the day because during their encounter with the Dark Elf Eol, both women had seen the fragility of the palace’s supposedly invulnerable reputation.

However, what emerged from the corner of the corridor was not some terrible creature of darkness but rather half a dozen palace guards. Their gazes fixed firmly upon the two women as they approached and there was something in their manner that immediately put Eowyn on guard, though she could not understand why she should react to them with such caution. These were guards she had seen at every visit she had made to the palace since becoming the Lady of Ithilien. There was no reason to fear them and yet instincts made her wary nonetheless. They came to a pause before her, their faces were stone as they regarded Eowyn and Melia with eyes equally hard.

"Lady Melia, Lady Eowyn," the leader among them spoke. "We regret to inform that you are to be taken into custody by the order of King Elessar."

At first it did not register because it was simply too incredible for her mind to accept.

"In custody?" Eowyn demanded. "For what reason?"

"We have not been told," the man answered, his expression showing that he was just as bewildered by this orders but not enough to prevent him from carrying them out. "Our orders are only to see to it that you are brought into custody."

"This is outrageous!" Eowyn retorted as she saw the guards making a move towards them. "I do not for one instant believe that the king sanctioned this. I demand to see him! Better yet, I demand to see my husband, the Steward of Gondor."

"Neither the king or the steward will see you my lady," the guard answered. "It was Prince Faramir that issued the king’s orders."

Eowyn was stunned into silence.

Behind her, Melia and Nunaur were similarly astonished by the guard’s revelation. It was too incredible, all of it. To believe for an instant that the Aragorn they knew would order their arrest without even revealing why was impossible. However, it was no more improbable then believing Faramir would issue orders for his wife’s incarceration. Yet here it was before them, an impossibility about to become reality.

"I do not believe you," she whispered soft as she struggled to regain her composure. Thoughts swirled in her head, memories of the husband she loved more than anything, who had entered her life when she was of the belief that she would never love again because of a broken heart. He had rekindled the spirit inside her with his love, embraced the woman she was as something amazing, not at all to be tamed but relished. To believe that he was capable of this was impossible and Eowyn refused to believe it.

In fact, she would not.

The guard had stood close to her when he revealed his orders, preparing to take her into his keeping even though he did not see any danger. It would be his undoing. Moving with speed that was almost elvish in its execution, Eowyn reached out and pulled away the sword at his hip. He reacted quickly but she was faster and by the time, he understood what had happened, the man felt the steel point of his sword against his throat.

"Withdraw," Eowyn ordered in a low voice.

"Do not be a fool my lady!" The guard tried to reason with her as the other guards unsheathed their weapons. Nunaur had also reacted in kind, offering support to Eowyn as he hurried to her side; his sword also unsheathed and brandished.

"The rest of you will go back the way you came," Eowyn repeated herself, pressing the blade harder against his throat. A little more effort and she would break skin. "Withdraw or I will run this floor red with his blood!"

For a moment, they hesitated, disbelieving that she would carry out her threat, but when Eowyn jabbed her the sword a little more, drawing a cry of pain from her victim, disbelief melted into understanding.

"There are five of us," one of them cried out as their captain trembled beneath Eowyn’s blade. "You cannot hope to fight your way through all of us."

"I stood before a creature that lived and breathed in Sauron’s midst. Darkness followed its every step and in its wake it swept aside warriors greater than any of you will ever hope to be with the power of its sorcery. I killed this thing and sent it into the shadow realm when all others around me had fallen, when even the King of the Mark lay at my feet. Do not presume that because I am woman, I cannot fight and defeat each one of you. I have face far eviler things then five guards who do not know when to retreat when it is in their best interests to do so."

Her speech had the desired effect of shaking them and despite the fact that they were five armed against two, they decided to heed her advice and withdraw. Eowyn stood firm until they had disappeared down the hallway, until Nunaur could no longer hear their footsteps. However, the departure was temporary and no doubt, even as she and her companions stood their ground, the soldiers would be returning soon enough and in greater numbers. When Eowyn removed her sword, Nunaur slammed the hilt of his own against the back of their prisoner’s neck, causing him to crumple to the floor in an unconscious heap and saving them the trouble of worrying about a hostage as they decided what they would do next.

"That was very impressive," Melia declared with unhidden admiration.

"Thank you," Eowyn said with a little smile, "I did that rather well, did I not."

"I would have withdrawn," Nunaur responded.

"We have to find Arwen," Eowyn declared striding down the hallway.

"We should find Legolas," Melia replied. "Perhaps he can stop this."

"He could have, he would done so already," Eowyn retorted as they took the servants corridors that veered them away from the main halls of the palace. "Besides, if my husband can be made to issue such an order, then there is no guarantee that Legolas is not affected in the same way."

"You cannot be certain of this," Melia countered, not wanting to believe that Legolas could be party to this nightmare that was slowly unfolding before them.

"I think she is right," Nunaur answered grimly. "I sensed danger when we entered the palace but it was not the danger of those guards. Something of great evil has cast its shadow upon us all. I can feel it all around us. It may be unwise to attempt to reach Lord Legolas."

"Would it be any easier to reach Arwen?" The former Ranger inquired.

Eowyn paused briefly as she turned to Melia, "if Aragorn made such an order and Faramir ordered it, then reaching the Lord of Eden Ardhon will not help us. We need to reach someone in authority and aside from the king and the steward, that person is the Queen of Gondor. In any case, I do not believe that Arwen would stand by and be party to this without good reason. I am hoping she can explain some of this."

"It is a worthy course of action, my lady," Nunaur stared at Melia.

"I agree," Melia nodded after considering Eowyn’s words briefly. "However, we cannot remain out in the open like this. We have to reach her quickly before the entire palace is roused and hunting for our blood."

"I hope it does not come to that," Eowyn replied as they started moving again.

Melia hoped the same thing as well but after what they had just been witnessed to, it did not seem likely.

**************

"Your highness, what has happened?" Ioreth asked after Arwen and she were left alone after Legolas and Faramir had left the royal chambers.

Ioreth had remained in the nursery, listening closely with rising disbelief as she heard Arwen arguing with the Prince of Ithilien and the Lord of Eden Ardhon as Arwen was forced to remain inside the royal chambers with armed guards outside her door ensuring she did not leave. Only after the nurse had heard the door closing behind the two men did she emerge to find Arwen standing in the center of the room, shaking with shock and anger.

"Something has happen to Estel," Arwen finally found her voice to speak after seconds of silence. The queen was clearly distressed and attempting to gain control of her anxious emotions. "The Easterlings have bewitched him somehow."

"Bewitched him?" Ioreth exclaimed. "How so?"

"He is different," Arwen stammered, "cold. He stared at me like I was a stranger, like I meant nothing to him. He would not let me see him and rebuked me for not knowing my place. That is not my Estel!" There was an edge of panic to the Evenstar’s voice that the old woman had never heard.

"Of course it is not," Ioreth hurried to the elven queen and consoled her with a comforting embrace. "If you say that he is bewitched, then I believe you. I heard Lord Legolas and Prince Faramir, I could not believe that is was them speaking if I had not seen it for myself."

There was no doubt in Ioreth’s mind that the king was bewitched as the queen claimed. Since the day she had been brought into this palace to take on the role of nurse to the crown prince, one thing was evident to her and to all those who lived within its walls, the king utterly adored his wife. It was a love so powerful that it warmed the heart to see someone as brave and noble could feel so much for one woman and seeing that same adoration in his loves’ eyes reflected back was equally as satisfying. If even half of what Arwen had said was true about Aragorn’s words to her in the great hall, then Ioreth was more than convinced that he was under some spell because nothing could compel him to speak to Arwen in that fashion.

"He has guards at the door," Arwen declared when she pulled away from Ioreth’s arms. "Those who control him do not wish to me to leave and they know I will try. Come, Ioreth, we do not have much time."

"What do you intend to do?" Ioreth asked as Arwen made her way to the nursery.

"I will remain here in my chambers because I must know what it is they plan to have him do," Arwen replied. "Estel and the leaders of Middle earth have be cast under some form of enchantment by the Easterlings, the spell must be broken. If they are allowed to leave Minas Tirith, the Easterlings will have puppets in every realm in the western lands, at Dol Amroth, Rohan, Ithilien even at Eden Ardhon."

"Then you must leave the Citadel," Ioreth said quickly, "you must attempt to reach our war masters and tell them what transpires here."

"I cannot leave," Arwen paused at Eldarion’s crib. "They will be expecting such a thing of me so it must be you."

"Me?" Ioreth’s eyes widened.

"Yes," Arwen answered, "it must be you because you must take my son with you. I dare not risk his life by allowing him to remain within his father’s reach, not when Estel’s mind is stolen. As it is, the enemy who was committed this sorcery has a great deal of power with the king under his sway and until we are able to convince others of what has happened, if that is even possible, there is nothing that is beyond his reach."

Ioreth nodded in understanding, despite her fear to do what Arwen asked. It was true. If Aragorn were indeed someone else’s creature, through him, they would be able to accomplish anything because there was little in Gondor that did not bend to the will of King Elessar. She cast her gaze at the babe in his mother’s arms, the child that had become as dear to her as any of her own children and knew that she would do anything to protect him.

"I will not let anything happen to him my lady," Ioreth said firmly and meant it.

"Thank you," Arwen smiled, assured that if it were in her power, Ioreth would keep Eldarion safe. However they had little time. If guards were not yet posted to terrace and gardens outside the royal chambers, there soon would be. Ioreth had to leave before they arrived. "Pack as little as you can. You need to move swiftly."

No sooner than she said those words, both women were alerted to a loud pounding against the door to the royal chamber. Arwen paled visibly and bade Ioreth to remain silent as she went to investigate. She had hoped for more time and her heart sank as the relentless pounding continued, indicating whomever was on the other side had no patience to wait. Calming herself, Arwen went towards the door, pausing first to retrieve Anduril that was hanging above the fireplace. She hid the weapon behind her and continued forward to answer the door once more.

When Arwen opened the door, she was not surprised to see the guards waiting outside in the hall though she wished she had more time. There were at least six of them waiting to be let in and Arwen suspected that the only justification for such numbers if they were in anticipation of receiving a great deal of trouble from her. There was only one thing that could bear that much resistance from her in their eyes and that was if they threatened her child.

"What is it?" She demanded.

"The king wishes the crown prince brought to him my lady," the guard responded. "Please let us in."

"He is not here," Arwen lied, aware that it was likely to do any good but she had to try nevertheless. "He was taken into the gardens by the Lady Ioreth."

The guard however was not so easily deceived and wanted proof. "I would prefer to see the nursery for myself, my lady."

"I do not give you leave to enter the royal chambers guard," Arwen said haughtily, sounding every bit the indignant monarch when she spoke.

"We have been given permission by the king," the guard repeated himself. "Please allow us entry or we shall be forced to take more drastic step."

"No," Arwen declared firmly.

Unfortunately, it appeared that they were more than willing to carry out the king’s order and she was shoved away from the doorway when they barged past the door, their numbers filling the room. The leader immediately took steps towards the nursery but Arwen was far swifter than he to allow him to enter. She barred his way with Anduril in her hand, her eyes gleaming with as much menace as the blade itself.

"Over my dead body, will you take my son," she hissed, raising the sword for them to see how determined she was on this point.

"Do not make this worse than it already is," the guard beseeched her but he had also drawn his weapon.

"Your king has been bewitched and you are playing into the hands of the enemy by obeying his demands. Do you not think it strange that you are ordered to steal a babe from its mother?" Arwen declared, hoping to reach them on some level.

"The king knows all about your plan to steal the prince away from Minas Tirith," the guard retorted. "He knows that you plan to return to your elven kinsmen and forsake Gondor!"

"What?" Arwen stared blankly at him.

The accusation took her by such surprise that her guard slipped for an instant and her attacker closed in. The guard had no intention of hurting her but he was intent on disarming her of the king’s sword. Unfortunately, Arwen had been accustomed to swordplay an age longer than her opponent had and she blocked his heavy swipe easily. However, the retaliatory strike brought the other guards forward and Arwen realized in a split second of despair that she would not be able to stop them all. She only hoped Ioreth had sense enough to flee.

However, it appeared she was not about to face this battle alone. Suddenly, without warning, Eowyn burst into the room, with Melia and Nunaur following. Her friend assessed the situation immediately and when her arrival deterred the attention of the guards from the queen, Eowyn raised her sword to fight. Arwen had little time to watch Eowyn defend herself as the queen blocked a powerful blow for the leader of the guards whom she had been battling. Anduril clanged hard against his sword and though the weapon was heavier than she was accustomed, she proved herself when he stumbled back from the ferocity of her attack. She swung the blade over her head, putting all her strength into it as she took advantage at his loss of balance He was barely capable of fending off her blow, let alone take the offensive.

Arwen had no wish to hurt him and swung again with just as much power behind her blade. Thanks to her elvish heritage, she had far more endurance than as he staggered backwards; she searched for something she could use to end their battle without actually taking his life. A heavy sculpture at the corner of the room came into rich and Arwen grabbed it with one hand and smashed the object against the side of his head when he was trying to come at her again. The stone carving shattered in her hand, crumbling to the floor as fragments and her opponent fell to the ground without a sound.

Letting out a sigh of relief, she looked up to see Eowyn battling the other guards. It was the first time Arwen had ever seen Eowyn fight another human being other than sparring with Melia. She had seen the Lady of Ithilien battle cold drakes, slay a dragon and the foul remnants of Mirkwood’s spiders but to see her fight an enemy armed with a sword was another thing entirely. Arwen could not help but stare with some measure of awe because Eowyn was amazingly fast. She was almost as fast as Estel and a part of Arwen was almost curious to see how Eowyn would fare against her king in a contest of swordplay.

Eowyn fought with cold ruthlessness. She did not strike blindly and each blow against her opponent was made to count. She did not fight to kill but to disable and though she did not resort to the clumsy solution that Arwen had employed, she left her challengers with wounds to ensure they would not be in any condition to offer pursuit but would eventually recover from.

Melia on the other hand, fought with whatever was at hand, in this case the poker from the fireplace. The former ranger had enough agility and skill with her hands to ensure that she was able to hold her own. Unlike Eowyn’s calculated movements, Melia’s style of defense was spur of the moment and intuitive, allowing her to take her opponent by surprise. What was left of the guards, Nunaur was able to dispatch with the skill afforded to a denizen of Mirkwood who had battled far dangerous things than Citadel guards in his time.

When the battle was over and the guards were either subdued or unconscious around them, the four combatants faced each other with a flurry of questions.

"Arwen, what in the name of Manwe is going on?" Eowyn demanded. When she had entered the queen’s chamber and saw the attack, she had not even considered why, only that Arwen needed her help.

"They came to take Eldarion," Arwen explained breathlessly, still a little stunned that things were unfolding as they were. "Something has bewitched Estel. Not just him but all who were present at the signing."

"Then that explains why Lord Faramir would order his wife and Lady Melia taken into custody," Nunaur shook his head in understanding.

"They are all affected by whatever spell the Easterlings has wrought upon them," Arwen declared, unsurprised by this news since she remembered how Faramir and Legolas had escorted her to her chambers. "The guard told me that Estel believed I was going to steal Eldarion away from him and return with him to Imladris. They had come to take him away from me."

"This may not be the best place for him," Eowyn replied. "If what you say is true, if the king’s mind has been taken then Eldarion is a powerful bargaining tool to use against you."

"Agreed," Melia added. "They would use your love for your son to control you. That is probably why they had the king order your son brought to him."

"Ioreth!" Arwen called out. "It is safe for you to show yourself."

Ioreth appeared shortly after, her expression wrought with worry as she held the infant prince in her arms. However, it dissipated considerably when she saw that the queen was unhurt. It had been unnerving indeed for her to remain hidden when she could only hear the sounds of swords clashing beyond the walls of the nursery. Once Ioreth had joined them, Nunaur prompted them to leave the royal chambers, taking flight into the gardens that surrounded this section of the palace. Unfortunately, the safety it afforded would only be fleeting. Once the guards were discovered, the alarm would be raised throughout the Citadel.

"We must get Eldarion out of here," Arwen stated firmly, "we must get to the war masters in the city."

Eowyn who was more familiar with the extent of the king’s hold upon his kingdom was not convinced this would be any better for Eldarion. "Arwen, I do not think that will be any safer. Even if you are able to reach his counselors, they will have a difficult time of it being able to unseat Aragorn. He is king. His word is law and nothing he has done so far has endangered Gondor or its people Not yet at least."

"You cannot call our husbands behaviour as normal!" Arwen countered.

"Evenstar," Nunaur interceded, understanding Eowyn’s point all too well. "As distasteful as the Elfstone’s behaviour has been, he has not endangered anyone and to them, he is perfectly within his rights to treat his wife and his son as he chooses. We cannot guarantee Eldarion will be any safer in Minas Tirith then he is here."

"You need to take him beyond Aragorn’s reach," Melia suggested. "You need to take him out of Gondor."

"Out of Gondor?" Arwen gasped with shock but soon realized that they were right. Eldarion was not safe and Estel was still king even if his mind was bewitched. She thought deeply as to what needed to be done and came to a solution far sooner than she would have liked, even though she did not like it very much. Taking a deep breath, she steadied her uncertain nerves and revealed to her friends, the only way she knew to protect her son.

"Yes," Eowyn nodded agreeing that this was a good choice, "Celeborn would ensure no harm comes to Eldarion and not even the armies of Gondor would dare attempt to intrude upon Mirkwood without regretting it bitterly."

"It is a long journey," Melia added, "and one that could prove useful because we need a wizard here to break this spell and Pallando still dwells at Thranduil’s court. You can take Eldarion to Celeborn and send word to Eryn Lasgalen that Pallando is needed in the White City."

"Not me," Arwen answered staring at her son a moment before raising her eyes to the others. "Ioreth, you will take my son to Mirkwood and Nunaur, you will go with her."

"I will not leave none of you here alone Evenstar," the march warden stated vehemently

"You can and you will," Arwen said firmly, her voice commanded the same obedience demanded of her grandmother Galadriel, rather than the Queen of Gondor. "This task is far more important than the lives of three women. If the Easterlings gain possession of my son, they could conceivably affect the future of Middle earth for the next three centuries, do you understand? Through his father and through him, they would have the power to spread darkness across the land. We cannot let that happen and the only way to ensure that is for you to do what I ask."

Nunaur’s debate with the decision could be seen clearly on his face however, Arwen suspected that he would agree to her wishes. He was an elf after all. He would yield to the logic of the situation.

"Alright," he finally agreed. "But what about you? What will you gain by remaining?"

Arwen raised her eyes to Eowyn and Melia before answering, "time."

Time to stop whatever the Easterlings were planning from taking shape. If it was not already too late.

This is a work of fan fiction, written because the author has an abiding love for the works of J R R Tolkien. The characters, settings, places, and languages used in this work are the property of the Tolkien Estate, Tolkien Enterprises, and possibly New Line Cinema, except for certain original characters who belong to the author of the said work. The author will not receive any money or other remuneration for presenting the work on this archive site. The work is the intellectual property of the author, is available solely for the enjoyment of Henneth Annûn Story Archive readers, and may not be copied or redistributed by any means without the explicit written consent of the author.

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